2007 CADILLAC DTS PROFESSIONAL wiper blades

Clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before
using them. If they are frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If the blades
become worn or damaged, replace with new
blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Your vehicle has wiper-activated headlamps.
After the windshield wipers have completed eight
wipe cycles within four minutes, the headlamps
automatically turn on. SeeWiper Activated
Headlamps on page 197for more information.Rainsense™ II Wipers
If your vehicle has this feature, the moisture
sensor is mounted on the interior side of the
windshield behind the rearview mirror. It is used
to automatically operate the wipers by monitoring
the amount of moisture build-up on the windshield.
Wipes occur as needed to clear the windshield
depending on driving conditions and the sensitivity
setting. In light rain or snow, fewer wipes will occur.
In heavy rain or snow, wipes will occur more
frequently. The Rainsense™ II wipers operate in
a delay mode as well as a continuous low or high
speed as needed. If the system is left on for long
periods of time, occasional wipes may occur
without any moisture on the windshield. This is
normal and indicates that the Rainsense™ II
system is activated.
173

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a
wet road, you cannot stop, accelerate, or turn as
well because your tire-to-road traction is not as
good as on dry roads. And, if your tires do not have
much tread left, you will get even less traction. It is
always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain
starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may
get wet suddenly when your reexes are tuned for
driving on dry pavement.The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even
if your windshield wiper blades are in good
shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see
road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings,
the edge of the road, and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield washer
uid reservoir lled with washer uid. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show signs
of streaking or missing areas on the windshield,
or when strips of rubber start to separate from
the inserts.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They
may not work as well in a quick stop and
may cause pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car wash, apply the brake pedal
lightly until the brakes work normally.
320

Of course, you will nd experienced and able
service experts in GM dealerships all across North
America. They will be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir
full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough
for long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inated to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major
storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway
hypnosis? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the
wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of
awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road
with the same scenery, along with the hum of the
tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the
rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make
you sleepy. Do not let it happen to you! If it does,
your vehicle can leave the road in less than a
second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First,
be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with
a comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead
and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors
and your instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get
some exercise, or both. For safety, treat
drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.
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Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 424
Wheel Replacement.................................. 424
Tire Chains............................................... 426
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 427
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 428
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 429
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 431
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 437
Spare Tire................................................. 438
Appearance Care........................................ 440
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 440
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 441
Leather...................................................... 442
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 443
Wood Panels............................................. 443
Speaker Covers........................................ 443
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 443
Weatherstrips............................................ 444
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 444
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 444
Finish Care............................................... 444Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 445
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim................................................ 446
Tires......................................................... 447
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 447
Finish Damage.......................................... 447
Underbody Maintenance............................ 448
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 448
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 449
Vehicle Identication.................................. 450
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 450
Service Parts Identication Label............... 450
Electrical System........................................ 451
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 451
Headlamp Wiring....................................... 451
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 451
Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................. 452
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 452
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 452
Rear Underseat Fuse Block....................... 455
Capacities and Specications.................... 460
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
352

Bulb Replacement
It is recommended that all bulbs be replaced by
your dealer.
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting
{CAUTION:
The low beam high intensity discharge
lighting system operates at a very high
voltage. If you try to service any of the
system components, you could be
seriously injured. Have your dealer or a
qualied technician service them.
Your vehicle has HID headlamps. After your
vehicle’s HID headlamp bulb has been replaced,
you may notice that the beam is a slightly different
shade than it was originally. This is normal.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear or cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 465for more information on wiper blade
inspection.
Replacement blades come in different types and
are removed in different ways. Here’s how to
remove the wiper blade:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Lift the windshield wiper arm and blade away
from the windshield.
3. Pull the clip up from the blade connecting point,
and pull the blade assembly down toward the
windshield to remove it from the wiper arm.
400

4. Install the new wiper blade onto the wiper arm
and rmly press down on the clip to snap it
into place.
To remove and replace the wiper blade element
do the following:
1. The wiper blade element has two notches at
one end which are engaged by the bottom
claw set of the wiper blade. At the notched
end of the wiper blade, pull the wiper
blade element from the wiper blade assembly.
2. To replace the element, start at the heel end
of the wiper blade, which is the end nearest to
the base of the wiper arm, and slide the
wiper blade element, notched end last, into
the wiper blade claw sets.
3. To engage the last claw into the notched end
of the wiper blade element, squeeze the wiper
blade element at the notched area, and
push the wiper blade element so the claw ts
into the notch.
4. Be sure the two wiper blade element notches
are engaged by the last claw set, and that all
the other claws are properly engaged in the
slots of the wiper blade element on both sides.A. Correct Installation
B. Incorrect Installation
For the proper type and size windshield wiper
blades, seeNormal Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 476.
401

The vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint
nish. The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss
to the colored basecoat. Always use waxes
and polishes that are non-abrasive and made for a
basecoat/clearcoat paint nish.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and
other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and
tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from
industrial chimneys, etc., can damage the vehicle’s
nish if they remain on painted surfaces. Wash
the vehicle as soon as possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging,
weather, and chemical fallout that can take their
toll over a period of years. To help keep the
paint nish looking new, keep the vehicle in a
garage or covered whenever possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to
keep their luster. Washing with water is all
that is usually needed. However, you may use
chrome polish on chrome or stainless steel trim, if
necessary.Use special care with aluminum trim. To avoid
damaging protective trim, never use auto or
chrome polish, steam or caustic soap to clean
aluminum. A coating of wax, rubbed to high polish,
is recommended for all bright metal parts.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield with
glass cleaner.
Clean the rubber blades using a lint free cloth or
paper towel soaked with windshield washer uid or
a mild detergent. Wash the windshield thoroughly
when cleaning the blades. Bugs, road grime,
sap, and a buildup of vehicle wash/wax treatments
may cause wiper streaking. Replace the wiper
blades if they are worn or damaged.
Wipers can be damaged by:
Extreme dusty conditions
Sand and salt
Heat and sun
Snow and ice, without proper removal
445

Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Change engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil on page 365. Reset oil life system.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 368.An Emission Control Service.••
Visually check for any leaks or damage.See footnote (k).••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 370.See footnote (m).•
Rotate tires and check ination pressures and wear. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 418and “Tire Wear Inspection” inAt Least Once a Month on
page 472.••
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels and add uid
as needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services” in
this section.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Check transmission uid level and add uid as needed.•
Replace passenger compartment air lter.See footnote (g).•
467